Aerial projectile with jack-in-the-box

ABSTRACT

A toy to be tossed from one player to another has a shaft with enlarged portions and a jack-in-the-box-type device secured by at least one catch at one end, the shaft having trigger strings extending through the enlarged portions along the shaft to the at least one catch so that the touching of a trigger string releases the jack-in-the-box-type device.

United States Patent n 13,s72,71s

1,062,129 5/1913 Sweeney 46/146 2,377,498 6/1945 Jacke r 273/106 2,525,228 10/1950 Lucero 273/106 2,598,807 6/1952 Lawson, Jr., et a1. 46/146X 2,858,644 1 1/1958 Derham 46/146 3,029,077 4/1962 Benkoe .....(273/105.4UX) 3,111,317 11/1963 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorney-Peter L. Tailer ABSTRACT: A toy to be tossed from one player to another has a shaft with enlarged portions and a jack-in-the-box-type device secured by at least one catch at one end, the shaft having trigger strings extending through the enlarged portions along the shaft to the at least one catch so that the touching of a trigger string releases the jack-in-the-box-type device.

Cituk 273/106(R)X AERIAL PROJECTILE WITH .IACK-IN-THE-BOX SUM MARY OF THE INVENTION The toy of myinvention has a shaft with enlarged portions formed along its length. A jack-in-the-box-type device is disposed in one end of the shaft and secured therein by at least one catch. Trigger strings extend through passages, slots, or the like in the enlarged portions to extend longitudinally between the enlarged portions a spaced distance from the shaft. The strings are connected to the at least one catch to release the jack-in-the-box-type device'if they are contacted by the hand of a player. The toyis tossed between players and caught by one hand at the enlarged portions. If an enlarged portion is missed and a trigger string is contacted by the hand of a player,.the jack-in-the-box-type device is released and that player loses.

This toy provides entertainment and excitement and develops a wide range of skills. It is easily manufactured and has a great appeal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the top of a third embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of a fragment of the toy taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the first embodiment of the toy of this invention has an elongated shaft 10 having a number of enlarged portions 11 14 formed along its length with spaces 16-18 therebetween. The enlarged portions and the spaces are substantially fist size. Longitudinal passages 20 in portions 12--14 accommodate the trigger strings 21 of which there should be at least two. Three strings 21 are shown in the first embodiment of this invention. The lower ends of the trigger strings 21 may be secured by knotting them and allowing the knots 22 to rest in the apertures 23 at the end of the passages 20. The strings 21 may be secured in any other desired manner.

Portion 11 is hollow and contains the cavity 26 covered by the lid 27 hinged by hinge 28 to portion 11. Lid 27 may be decorated and formed as shown to appear as an insects head 30. A catch 31 is fixed to portion 11 and locks the lid 27 closed. Within cavity 26, there is placed a jack-in-the-boxtype device 32' having a compression spring body 33 and a head 34 which presses against lid 27 when it is held closed by catch 31. The trigger strings 21 are attached or connected to catch 31 so that tension on any one of them will pull the catch 31 to release lid 27 allowing device 31 to fly forth. While a one-piece spring catch 31 is shown, any known catch device may be used. Although all the trigger strings 21 are shown connected directly to catch 31, they may be connected to catch 31 by fixing them together and fixing a single string to catch 31.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of this invention. Grooves 40 are formed in the enlarged portions 41 to receive the trigger strings 42 therein. This construction simplifies the head 50 is held by two or more catches 56 to secure device 51 in cavity 53. The catches 56 are integrally molded as u wardl extending tongues 57 havrng'outwardly extending poriions 5 to which the trigger strings 64 are attached by upper loops 59. A fastener 60 may span the groove 61 to hold strings 64 therein. In the third embodiment of this invention, the release of any one of two or three or even more catches 56 will release device 51. i

As shown in FIG. 4, the second embodiment of this invention may use the head 47 of its device as a lid if desired.

While this invention has been shown and described in the best forms known to me, it will nevertheless be understood that these are purely exemplary and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as it may be more limited in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A toy comprising, in combination, an elongated shaft, enlarged portions disposed along said shaft having spaces therebetween and having passages therethrough, a spring activated device at one end of said shaft, at least one catch retaining said spring activated device, and trigger strings extending through the passages in said enlarged portions spanning said spaces therebetween, said trigger strings being connected to said at least one catch so that the hand of a player contacting a trigger string releases said device.

2. The combination accordingto claim 1 wherein said shaft has a cavity at one end and wherein said device is a jack-in the-box-type device retained in said cavity by said at least one catch.

3. The combination according to claim 2 with the addition of a lid hinged over said cavity in said shaft, and wherein said at least one catch is a single catch holding said lid closed over said jack-in-the-box-type device. 7

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said catch is an inward flexing single-piece spring catch pulled inward by said trigger strings releasing said lid.

5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said jackin-the-box-type device has a head extending over said cavity as a lid, said at least one catch securing said head over said cavity. I

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said at least one catch is a plurality of inward flexing catches, and wherein said jack-in-the-box-type device has an annular locking ridge engagedby said catches, each of said trigger strings being secured to one of said catches, release of any of said catches releasing said jack-in-the-box-type device.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said catches are integrally formed in said shaft as upwardly extending tongues each having an inwardly extending catch portion and outwardly extending portion connected to a trigger string.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said passages are longitudinal aligned apertures extending through said enlarged portions.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said passages are longitudinal grooves formed in said enlarged portions.

10. The combination according to claim 9 with the addition of fasteners spanning said grooves retaining said trigger strings therein. 

1. A toy comprising, in combination, an elongated shaft, enlarged portions disposed along said shaft having spaces therebetween and having passages therethrough, a spring activated device at one end of said shaft, at least one catch retaining said spring activated device, and trigger strings extending through the passages in said enlarged portions spanning said spaces therebetween, said trigger strings being connected to said at least one catch so that the hand of a player contacting a trigger string releases said device.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said shaft has a cavity at one end and wherein said device is a jack-in-the-box-type device retained in said cavity by said at least one catch.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 with the addition of a lid hinged over said cavity in said shaft, and wherein said at least one catch is a single catch holding said lid closed over said jack-in-the-box-type device.
 4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said catch is an inward flexing single-piece spring catch pulled inward by said trigger strings releasing said lid.
 5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said jack-in-the-box-type device has a head extending over said cavity as a lid, said at least one catch securing said head over said cavity.
 6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said at least one catch is a plurality of inward flexing catches, and wherein said jack-in-the-box-type device has an annular locking ridge engaged by said catches, each of said trigger strings being secured to one of said catches, release of any of said catches releasing said jack-in-the-box-type device.
 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said catches are integrally formed in said shaft as upwardly extending tongues each having an inwardly extending catch portion and outwardly extending portion connected to a trigger string.
 8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said passages are longitudinal aligned apertures extending through said enlarged portions.
 9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said passages are longitudinal grooves formed in said enlarged portions.
 10. The combination according to claim 9 with the addition of fasteners spanning said grooves retaining said trigger strings therein. 